Hair cutting devices



Oct. 25, 1955 J. G. AMES 2,721,385

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United States Patent Oflice 2,721,385 Fatented Get. 25, 1955 HAIR CUTTING DEVECES James Gerald Ames, Aurora, llll.

Application February 8, 1954, Serial No. 488,848

7 Claims. (Cl. 3G-233.5)

This invention relates to hair cutting devices, and more particularly to a unitary scissors type device for trimming hair.

Many types of hair cutting devices for self use have heretofore been proposed but in general have either been unsatisfactory or have required the development of a relatively high degree of skill for satisfactory results. One such device is more particularly described and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 244,790, filed September 1, 1951 now abandoned of which this application is a continuation-in-part. This device is in general quite satisfactory but has been found to be somewhat awkward to handle in trimming the hair on certain parts of the head.

It is accordingly one of the objects of the present invention to provide a hair cutting device which can be handled in an easy natural manner for self use or for use on others.

Another object is to provide a hair cutting device which can be held against the palm of the hand for self use and moved over the head in an easy natural movement similar to that of rubbing the hand over the head.

Still another object is to provide a hair cutting device which is held by an elongated flat handle extending at right angles to the plane of the comb thereon for easy gripping between the extended fingers.

A further object is to provide a hair cutting device including a guide leaf projecting from and parallel to the comb to assist in guiding the comb away from the head.

A still further object is to provide a hair cutting device which is simple and inexpensive to construct and assemble.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating self use of a device embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a similar view illustrating one manner of using the device on others;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the device with the blades open;

Figure 4 is a plan view with parts in section;

Figure 5 is a section on the lines 55 of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a side elevation.

The hair cutting device as shown comprises a sheet 10 of metal or the like forming a flat elongated handle member. The sheet 10 is adapted to carry a comb member 13 which may be formed by bending up one edge of the sheet and forming it throughout the major portion of its length with teeth, as shown.

The sheet 10 also includes a guide leaf 15 extending at right angles to the sheet and in the plane of the comb 13. The guide leaf is preferably of thin sheet metal to be somewhat flexible and is integrally secured to the sheet 10 and projects a substantial distance below it as shown.

Cutting is provided by a pair of scissor like blades, one of which indicated at 16, lies flat against the comb and is rigid therewith. The blade 16 is mounted by projecting a small tip thereon through an opening in an angular flange 17 at the outer end of the comb and by securing the inner end thereof adjacent its butt end to the comb as described hereinafter. The second blade, as shown at 18, is pivotally connected to the blade 16 by a bolt 19 which extends through the two blades and through the comb near the butt ends of the blades.

The second blade is attached to a guard member 21 which may be formed of plastic, or the like, and which extends along the full length of the blade. Preferably the face of the supporting member is recessed to receive the blade so that no other fastenings are required and so that the cutting edge of the blade projects beyond the supporting member, as seen in Figures 3 and 6.

The guard member 21 is formed at one end with a hollow base portion 22 of generally cylindrical form which fits over and receives the bolt 19 which constitutes a pivot pin for the blades. The hollow base portion is formed with spaced edges 23 and 24 lying above the handle sheet 10 to engage the handle sheet and thereby limit pivotal movement of the second blade 18. Thus, when the second blade is elevated, as shown in Figure 3, the edge 23 will engage the upper surface of the plate while the edge 24 is spaced therefrom. When the blade is pushed downward, the edge 24 will engage the handle sheet 10 to limit downward movement.

To facilitate movement and handling of the device, the guard member 21 is formed with a flange 25 projecting inwardly therefrom over the handle sheet 10. The flange 25 may extend the full length of the guard member and the blade 18, as shown, to be gripped by the fingers of a user thereby to press the blade 18 toward the blade 16 during a cutting operation.

The blade 18 and the guard member are normally urged upward to the position shown in Figure 3 so that the blades will open when released and may be pressed together for cutting. For this purpose a spring is provided in the hollow base 22 of the guard member acting on the guard member and blade 18 to elevate them. As shown, the spring is in the form of a coil spring 26 fitting around the bolt 18 and held thereon by a nut 27. One end of the coil spring extends outward therefrom, as shown at 28, to engage an outwardly projecting shoulder of the edge 23 of the hollow base and the opposite end 29 of the spring may fit through an opening in the handle sheet 10. The spring is wound in a direction such that it normally urges the blade 18 and guard member 21 upward and will yield when the blade 18 is pressed downward for cutting. In this way the blades automatically separate so that the operator need only press them together for a cutting operation.

The spring 26 may also serve to hold the blades yieldingly pressed together so that they will cut properly at all times. For this purpose, the spring is in the form of supported turns which may be compressed by the nut 27 to urge the guard member and the blade 18 toward the blade 16. It will be noted that in the construction, as shown, the bolt 19 with its nut 27 constitutes the only fasening means required to hold the complete unit assembled and in operating condition. This bolt serves not only to anchor one end of the blade 16 but also pivotally connects the blade 18 to the blade 16, connects the guard member to the blade 18 and mounts the spring 26. Assembly of the device is therefore reduced to a minimum.

For self use the sheet 19 is gripped between the extended fingers of the left hand as illustrated in Figure 1, with the comb and cutting blades projecting slightly beyond the fingers. When so gripped the device can be moved over the head in the manner illustrated in Figure 1 so that the comb 13 will pick up the hair which can'then be cut by engaging the fingerpiece and the end of the sheet which also serves as a fingerpiece with the fingers of the right hand and moving blade 18 downward toward the blade 16 in a cutting operation. It will be seen that handling of the device involves a completely natural type of movement similar to that of rubbing the palm of the hand over the head and does not require straining of the hand into any unnatural position. The device can therefore be easily used without requiring any great amount of turning or skill, and will perform effectively for self trimming of the hair.

The guide leaf will normally lie fiat against the neck or head of the user and will retain the device in proper cutting position without any possibility of tilting to gouge the hair. As the device is moved upward over the relatively straight neck the comb and blades will be held close to the head to cut the hair short. Higher up on the head the bulging contour will move the blades and comb away from the head as the guide leaf is held in contact with the head to produce a smooth tapered or shingled effect. If a more rapid taper is desired the device can actually be tilted about the guide leaf which can flex slightly for this purpose. In either case the tapering or shingling cut is almost automatic so that the desired type of cut can be obtained repeatedly without requiring the development of any substantial degree of skill.

For use on others, as illustrated in Figure 2, the sheet 10 may again be gripped between the extended fingers as shown with the back of the hand facing the head of the person whose hair is to be trimmed, and the blades can be manipulated with the fingers of the right hand as before. It will also be apparent that the sheet 19 could, if desired, be gripped between the fingers and thumb of the users hand and the blades manipulated with the fingers of the same hand, depending upon the individual preference of the user. In any event, the device is easy to hold and to manipulate and will function effectively in trimming hair.

While one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail, it will be understood that this is illustrative only and is not to be taken as the scope of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A hair cutting device comprising an elongated comb, a first cutting blade secured rigidly to the comb and lying generally parallel and closely adjacent thereto, a second blade pivotally connected to the first blade adjacent to one end thereof, a spring urging the blades apart, a fingerpiece adjacent to the free end of the second blade by which it can be moved toward the first blade, and an elongated flat handle rigidly secured to the comb and projecting at substantially a right angle to the plane of the comb to be grasped by the fingers of a user.

2. A hair cutting device comprising an elongated comb, a first cutting blade secured rigidly to the comb and lying generally parallel and closely adjacent thereto, a second blade pivotally connected to the first blade adjacent to one end thereof, a spring urging the blades apart, a fingerpiece adjacent to the free end of the second blade by which it can be moved toward the first blade, an elongated fiat handle rigid with the comb and lying at substantially a right angle to the plane of the comb to be grasped by the fingers of a user, and a guide leaf secured to the comb lying substantially in the plane thereof and extending away from the toothed edge thereof.

3. A hair cutting device comprising an elongated comb, a first cutting blade secured rigidly to the comb and lying generally parallel and closely adjacent to the comb, a second blade pivotally connected to the first blade adjacent to one end thereof, a spring urging the blades apart, a fingerpiece adjacent to the free end of the second blade by which it can be moved toward the first blade, a handle secured to the comb by which the device can be manipulated, and a guide leaf secured to the comb lying substantially in the plane thereof and extending away from the toothed edge thereof.

4. A hair cutting device comprising an elongated comb, a first cutting blade secured rigidly to the comb and lying generally parallel and closely adjacent to the comb, a second blade pivotally connected to the first blade adjacent to one end thereof, a handle sheet projecting at a right angle from the comb beneath the first blade, a pivot pin extending through the comb and the blades pivotally to connect the blades together and to secure the first blade to the comb, a coil spring around the pivot pin anchored at one end to the handle sheet, and means connecting the other end of the spring to the second blade, the spring being wound to urge the blades apart.

5. A hair cutting device comprising an elongated comb, a first cutting blade secured rigidly to the comb and lying generally parallel and closely adjacent to the comb, a second blade pivotally connected to the first blade adjacent to one end thereof, a handle sheet projecting at a right angle from the comb beneath the first blade, a pivot pin extending through the comb and the blades pivotally to connect the blades together and to secure the first blade to the comb, a coil spring around the pivot pin anchored at one end to the handle sheet, means connecting the other end of the spring to the second blade, the spring being wound to urge the blades apart, a guard member secured to and extending along the second blade, a hollow base portion on the guard member enclosing the pivot pin and spring and having spaced edges engageable with the handle sheet to limit pivotal movement of the second blade, and a flange on the guard member forming a fingerpiece for operating the second blade.

6. A hair cutting device comprising an elongated comb, a first cutting blade secured rigidly to the comb and lying generally parallel and closely adjacent to the comb, a second blade pivotally connected to the first blade adjacent to one end thereof, a handle sheet projecting at a right angle from the comb beneath the first blade, a pivot pin extending through the comb and the blades pivotally to connect the blades together and to secure the first blade to the comb, a guard member secured to and extending along the second blade, a hollow base on the guard member enclosing the pivot pin, the hollow base having spaced edges engageable with the handle sheet to limit pivotal movement of the second blade, a spring in the hollow base engaging the second blade and urging it away from the first blade, and a flange on the guard member forming a fingerpiece for operating the second blade.

7. A hair cutting device comprising a handle member, an elongated comb rigid with the handle member, a bent over tip on the end of the comb formed with an opening therein, a first blade lying along one side of the comb having a reduced tip fitting into said opening and secured at its other end to the handle member, a second blade pivotally connected to the first blade adjacent to the handle member, a spring urging the blades apart, and a fingerpiece at the free end of the second blade, the fingerpiece and handle member serving as finger grips by which the blades can be moved together.

No references cited. 

